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A Thought Leaders Connected interview from Mariyam Rawat on her journey through the PR landscape

19 Sep 2017

1. Can you give me a brief overview of your background and experience?

Science graduate

Started work in a lab at Boots HQ

Worked across most of the pharma value chain

Started working in crisis management during my time in medical affairs

Following completion of a MBA in 2007 moved to commercial side

Began working in consulting at the end of 2009

Took time out to have my daughter and returned part-time and then as a contractor

Decided to re-focus and update my knowledge on crisis and risk management -and began a part-time MSc at Kings College in Risk Analysis which I am due to complete in Autumn 2017

2. What would you say are your three key attributes that contributed to your career success?

Passionate

Hungry for knowledge/ improvement

Resourceful

3. Moving from in-house to agency isn’t as common, what motivated you to move from Sinclair Pharma to FTI Consulting?

I had considered it for a few years when an agency member suggested I should give it a go. After Director comms & IR role I wanted a new challenge where I could step out of my comfort zone and work in other sectors outside of pharma.

4. You have recently joined a Crisis and Issues team at one of the Big 4, tell us about this?

Organisations are facing multiple threats to their value and reputation due to a number of external or internal factors ranging from the geopolitical such as Brexit to internally driven issues due to some imbalance in operational discipline. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team which can support clients across the entire crisis and issues lifecycle allows me to draw upon my practical and academic skills to offer clients a unique solution.

5. In one sentence, what is the biggest challenge in your role right now?

Impressing upon clients the importance of considering and preparing for the impact of Brexit sooner rather than later.

6. Your top tip for influencing C-suite?

Always put your clients’ needs at the heart of what you do.

7. What is the most important lesson you have learned in life so far?

Sometimes the greatest opportunities in life are delivered in unfamiliar packaging, learn to recognize them.

8. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve been given along the way and by whom?

My first work mentor taught me to always improve on what I did yesterday.

9. You have a busy personal and professional life, what do you do outside of work to de-stress?

Spend time with my four year old who has a creative nature and keen imagination which can be a huge amount of fun and going to the gym.

10. What should the industry do to improve employee wellbeing?

Be more open to implementing innovative working patterns. Offering individuals a platform to create their own perfect balance between personal and professional interests will be critical to talent management, as society ages and technology changes the landscape further.

Thank you, Mariyam.

If you are a senior professional and interested in being interviewed for our Thought Leaders Connected newsletter, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with Sarah on 0207 559 6597 or email sarah@the-works.co.uk